Background check websites

anybody ever use these? If so, any recommendations?

I've heard (third-hand, of course!) of people I BARELY EVEN KNEW(!!!) looking up my personal shit on their computer to see what kind of dirt they could find. No EFFING reason either, except maybe to see if they could make the person I was seeing break up with me.

No interesting garbage was found, unfortunately. I heard them just looking up shit on people they are acquainted with just because, what? "Inquiring Minds Want to Know?" Something about that kind of attitude towards other people's privacy just makes me kinda sick to my stomach.

Now, if you have some VERY PERSONAL PERTAINABLE TO YOU reason for doing it, may be there is a valid point, but the person you're looking into would have had to stepped on your toes in some manner first.

In my opinion.

I have seen them as low as 14.99 (for things like addresses for phone numbers you can't identify or are unlisted), but the full on ones have got to cost some bucks to get the info the advertise they can get.

I know 14.99 is more than I would spend to get information that might or might not be damaging to someone I barely know - even if a hot girl was involved :)

Did they go somewhere I am not aware of where these services are offered for free?

She came to my house and used "Intelius" to try to find out about the woman (note: I wasn't thrilled about her doing it but neither was I going to refuse to let her use my computer). The results weren't impressive... past addresses, that sort of thing. The whole idea gives me the willies.

if you meet someone and want to know they don't have a crim record or something.

My DH is a po' so I just have him check out the neighbors for that stuff... no personal info, just making sure there are no whackos in the building.